I used to be a teacher, and I know how difficult it is to strike a balance between focused conversation and an atmosphere which prevents creativity and thought.

Sequels are very rarely a good idea, and in any case, the success of the book changed my relationship with the club in some ways.

I can remember my father gave me a huge history of football for my 12th birthday - I used to read that a lot. I can remember thinking it was cool that something I was interested in even had a history. Most things I loved didn't.

Everything's complicated, even those things that seem flat in their bleakness or sadness.

Your failure to enjoy a highly rated novel doesn't mean you're dim - you may find that Graham Greene is more to your taste, or Stephen Hawking or Iris Murdoch or Ian Rankin. Dickens, Stephen King, whoever.

Everything's complicated, even those things that seem flat in their bleakness or sadness.